Chapter 3

The next afternoon, Ruby was finally moved out of the ICU into a regular ward.

I smoked two cigarettes in the corridor, then pushed open the door with a cold face.

I was ready to give her a good talking-to.

Ruby lay in the bed, her face white as paper.

Both her legs were wrapped in thick casts, hoisted high on a frame.

Her eyes were open, fixed straight up at the pale ceiling, and she said nothing.

I pulled over a chair and sat down.

"Are you done making a scene?"

"Even if you've got a problem with me, you don't go jumping off a building over it."

"Well, look at you now. You threw a fit and lost the baby. Happy?"

She didn't so much as blink, as if she hadn't heard a word.

That lifeless look of hers was the thing I hated most.

"Ruby, I'm warning you. No more of this crying, screaming, and threatening to kill yourself."

"You got lucky this time. There was an air cushion to catch you."

"Next time there might not be anyone to save you!"

I threw the words down coldly, waiting for her to cry and argue back the way she always did.

But the half-shut door creaked open instead.

Zoe came in, carrying a thermos.

She was in full makeup today, wearing a brand-new silk dress.

She set the thermos on the nightstand.

"Oh, you poor thing. You've been through so much."

"I made you some chicken soup, specially. To help you recover."

As she spoke, she deliberately lifted a hand to smooth back her hair.

A dazzling diamond bracelet now sat on her wrist.

Ruby's gaze finally shifted, landing on the bracelet.

Zoe covered her mouth in mock surprise.

"Oh, don't mind this. You gave me such a fright yesterday."

"Eli felt so bad about the shock, he took me to the mall specially to buy it."

"He said it isn't easy, a widow raising a child alone. I should have a little jewelry to my name."

I stood off to the side and didn't say a word to stop her.

The truth was, she'd planted herself at the counter and refused to leave, saying my brother had promised to buy it for her before he died.

She cried until I couldn't stand it, and I pulled out my card and paid.

But now I actually wanted Ruby to see it.

The more she acted out, the less I would give in.

I cleared my throat.

"That's enough, wipe that look off your face. Your sister-in-law cooked that soup out of kindness."

"You made such a huge scene this time you nearly gave your sister-in-law a heart attack."

"Give a little grace to your brother's widow and let it go. Drink the soup, then apologize to her."

"And we'll call it done."

I thought she'd do what she always did.

Either scream a fight at me, or dissolve into wounded tears.

She did neither.

Ruby turned her head.

Those unfocused eyes slowly sharpened into focus.

She looked at me, quiet.

No anger in that look, no resentment.

Only a dead stillness that ran cold down your spine.

Then she smiled.

Her cracked, colorless lips moved, just slightly.

And with utter calm, she said a few words.

"Elijah, let's get a divorce."